Mikel Arteta has hit back at mounting criticism of Arsenal’s set-piece strategy, declaring himself “upset” that his side have not converted even more dead-ball opportunities this campaign.
Speaking before Wednesday’s Premier League fixture against Brighton, the Arsenal manager offered a robust defence of his team’s approach.
“I’m upset that we don’t score more (from set-pieces) and that we concede (from them) as well,” Arteta stated.
The Spaniard made clear his ambitions extend beyond simply excelling from corners and free-kicks.
“So we want to be the best and the most dominant team in every aspect of the game. That’s the trajectory and the aim of this team, and the club,” he added.
The Gunners’ victory over Chelsea on Sunday, secured through two goals from corners, brought their tally of league strikes from set-pieces to 16 this season.
That figure matches the Premier League record for goals scored from such situations in a single campaign.
Mikel Arteta didn’t hold back as Arsenal prepare for Wednesday night’s Premier League match with Brighton
|PA
Arsenal now sit alongside three other sides who have achieved the same total: Oldham Athletic during the 1992-93 season, West Bromwich Albion in 2016-17, and remarkably, Arsenal themselves from the previous campaign.
The north London outfit have faced widespread criticism for what many perceive as an over-reliance on dead-ball situations to find the net.
Several of Arteta’s managerial counterparts have voiced their displeasure at the current state of Premier League football in recent days.
Five facts about the Premier League | PA/GETTY/REUTERS/GBNEWSLiverpool’s Arne Slot expressed his concerns on Monday, suggesting that the league’s preoccupation with set-pieces has rendered matches “not a joy to watch”.
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler added his own criticism today, accusing Arsenal of deliberately wasting time when taking corners.
The comments from rival managers have intensified the scrutiny on Arsenal’s methods, with the debate around playing styles dominating the build-up to Wednesday’s encounter at the Amex Stadium.
Arteta, however, has shown no inclination to alter his approach despite the growing chorus of disapproval from his peers.
Arteta mounted a spirited defence of his tactical approach, arguing that the prevalence of set-piece goals stems directly from how modern football has evolved.
Arsenal sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League table
|PA
“I don’t know how you celebrate one goal different to another one. Maybe for YouTube it’s nicer one over another, I don’t know. But the reality of football depends a lot,” he remarked.
The Arsenal boss suggested that those seeking more aesthetically pleasing football should look elsewhere.
“You want to watch that (kind of) football, you have to go to a different country because in the Premier League for the last two seasons or three seasons, this is not the case,” Arteta said.
He attributed the shift to teams now deploying man-to-man marking across virtually every phase of play, insisting the game will only change if the rules themselves are altered.